The Sheriff’s Office serves all the citizens of Butte County by providing a mix of public safety and public service functions. The Sheriff’s Office provides around-the-clock law enforcement service to every region of the county. In addition to 24 hour policing, we offer Butte County citizens a full range of services including, coroner services, civil services, court security and corrections.

Oroville, Ca—On November 30th, 2016, at 12:05 p.m., Butte County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) deputies responded to a report of a suicidal subject at a residence on D Street in Oroville. Deputies arrived to find the subject, whose name is being withheld out of respect for his privacy, on his front porch holding a butcher knife to his chest. It became apparent the subject was in crisis and intent upon committing suicide.
BCSO Deputies, Crisis Team Negotiators, a Chaplin and a Butte County Behavioral Health Department Clinician, who was able to respond to the scene, spoke to the subject for nearly 3 hours. During that period of time, they made significant efforts to de-escalate the situation. Some progress was made, but the subject remained steadfast in his refusal to surrender and be transported to the hospital. At one point, the subject moved the knife away from his chest and stuck it into the seat of the bench he was sitting on. However, he remained within six inches, and the knife was in his immediate reach. Concerned that the subject would re-arm himself with the butcher knife, deputies used that window of opportunity to subdue the subject with a Taser. The tactic was successful and the subject was taken into custody without significant injury to him or the deputies on scene.

The quick and thoughtful actions of deputies and behavioral health personnel on scene, helped save the subject’s life. The subject was transported to a local hospital for a mental health evaluation and treatment.
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For more information, please contact
BCSO Community Relations Unit
(530) 871-9440

On November 30, 2016, at approximately 9:20 pm, the Butte County Sheriff’s Office received a phone call from a citizen reporting there were two vehicles in an orchard on Grape Way at Meridian Road in Chico. The reporting party stated the occupants of the vehicles appeared to be shooting at each other.

Deputies arrived and found one vehicle still in the orchard. The vehicle’s engine was running and the vehicle was unoccupied. The vehicle had at least two bullet holes and a small amount of blood was located on the ground.

Deputies, CHP patrol units and a CHP helicopter checked the area for injured persons but were unable to find anyone.

The situation is under investigation. The Sheriff’s Office is urging anyone who may have additional information regarding this incident to contact BCSO Investigations or the Watch Commander at (530) 538-7321 or 891-2711.

Chico, CA- On Thursday November 24, 2016, at about 7:30 PM, Butte County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Baker attempted to stop a vehicle, for a lighting violation, in the area of Oro Chico Highway and Midway. The driver of the vehicle failed to stop and fled from Deputy Baker.

A 30 minute pursuit ensued which traveled through parts of Durham and then back into Chico, reaching speeds of approximately 80 miles per hour (MPH). The occupants tossed counterfeit currency from the vehicle during the pursuit. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) assisted by laying spike strips across the road in the area of Oro Chico Highway and Neal Road. The fleeing vehicle struck the spike strips which blew out at least one tire. Although the spike strips did not immediately bring the fleeing vehicle to a stop, the driver did slow down to about 40 MPH as it travelled back towards the Chico area.

As the pursuit reached the area of northbound Cypress Avenue, approaching E. 12th Street, the fleeing vehicle veered left and continued northbound on Pine Street which is a southbound only lane. Deputy Baker remained northbound on Cypress Avenue and momentarily lost sight of the vehicle. Officers from the Chico Police Department (CPD) located the vehicle a couple of minutes later, stopped at the intersection of Woodland Avenue and E. 7th Street. A female passenger was detained at that time. The male driver had already fled the area on foot into Bidwell Park. A search was conducted but the male was not located. Deputy Baker soon learned that an infant boy was in the back seat of the vehicle during the pursuit. The baby boy was uninjured and later taken into protective custody by Children’s Services.

The mother of the infant boy, 34 year old Amber Ward of Hamilton City, was arrested on charges of child endangerment, possession of counterfeit currency, and destroying evidence.
The driver, and father of the infant boy, has been identified as 36 year old Chico resident, Thomas Sanders. Sanders is wanted for evading, child endangerment, and possession of counterfeit currency.

Anyone with information about the pursuit or the whereabouts of Sanders is urged to call BCSO at 530-538-7321.

Oroville, Ca—Butte County Sheriff’s Investigation Unit is conducting an ongoing investigation regarding the body that was located on Middle Honcut Road on November 10, 2016. The body has been identified as that of Travis Gunnells, age 44, from Texas. Next of kin has been notified.
Detectives are investigating this incident as a suspicious death, no suspects have been identified. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Detective Beller at
(530) 538-7322.
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For more information, please contact
BCSO Community Relations Unit
(530) 871-9440

Suspicious Death Investigation

Oroville- (11/14/16)

On Thursday, 11/10/16 at around 2:00pm, Butte County Sheriff’s (BCSO) deputies were dispatched to Middle Honcut Road near Highway 70 in Oroville after a utility worker located the body of a white male adult. BCSO detectives responded to the scene to investigate. Due to the state of decomposition, it appeared the body had been there for a significant amount of time. An autopsy is planned for this week.

At this time, the case is being investigated as a suspicious death and no arrests have been made. Identification will not be made on the body until after the autopsy is completed. Anyone with information is encouraged to call the BCSO Investigation Unit at (530) 538-7321.

Oroville, Ca—The Butte County Sheriff’s Office Investigations Unit is conducting an ongoing investigation into the suspicious death in Bangor, involving a male who was located deceased in the passenger seat of a vehicle on McCaton Drive. The deceased male has been identified as Kenneth Tam, age 55, from the Sacramento area. Next of kin has been notified.
The cause of death remains unknown at this time; however, an autopsy will be conducted this week.

Through the investigation, detectives have learned that the deceased male was connected to a marijuana grow in the Brownsville area. This incident is being investigated as a suspicious death at this time.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the BCSO Investigations Unit at (530)538-7671.
For more information, please contact
BCSO Community Relations Unit
(530) 871-9440

Bangor Suspicious Death Investigation
Oroville- (11/15/16)

On Monday, 11/14/16 at approximately 1:09pm, a citizen reported a subject deceased in a vehicle on McCaton Drive in Bangor. Deputies arrived and located a deceased male in the passenger seat. The identity of the deceased male has not been confirmed.

It is not believed the vehicle was involved in a traffic collision and investigators are looking into the death as suspicious at this point. Anyone with information is urged to call the Butte County Sheriff’s Office Investigation Unit at (530) 538-7671.
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BCSO Community Relations Unit
(530) 871-9440